Stephen h



(No Model.)

S. H. SPRINGER.

GAR GOUPLING.

Patented Oct. 20, 1885.

UNTTEE STATES ATENT rrrcE.

STEPHEN H. SPRINGER, OF DES MOINES, IOWA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO JEROME HOLLINGS\VOETH AND JOSEPH P. BUSHNELL, OF SAME PLACE.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 328,620, dated October 20,1885.

Application filed February 13, 1885. Serial No. 155350. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, STEPHEN H. SPRINGER, of Des Moines, in the county of Polk and State of Iowa, have invented an Automatic Car- Coupling, of which the following is a specification.

My object is to avoid the dangers, accidents, maiming, and loss of life resulting from persons going between cars to couple and uncouple them, and to save money, labor, and

time.

My invention consists in the construction and combination of books having beveled heads operated by lever and spring, With draw-heads adapted to be used with common links and pins, if desired, and operating devices on the ends of the cars, as hereinafter fully set forth, in such a manner that when either ends of two cars come together on a track they will be automatically coupled, and also in such a manner that they can be readily uncoupled whenever desired by a person on top of the car or on the ground at either side of the car.

2 Figure lof my accompanying drawings is a perspective view showing one of my coupling devices attached to a car. Fig. 2 represents two cars connected by means of my invention. Figs. 3, 4, and 5 are detail views of my hooks 0 or coupling-heads.

Jointly considered, these figures clearly illustrate the construction, application, and operation of my complete invention.

A represents a draw-head of common form,

5 with cavity adapted to receive my hooks with beveled heads, and also adapted to receive a common link or pin.

B is an opening at the side and rear end of the cavity, through which the rear part of the 0 hook 0 extends to the link I.

No. 1 is a pin-hole formed through the front and center of the draw-head in a common manner for the purpose of admitting a pin to drop through a link in the cavity in a com- 5 mon way to couple two cars together, if necessary.

No. 2 is a pin-hole at the side of the hole No. 1, through which a pin is passed downward to restrict the inward movement of the hook pivoted in the cavity of the draw-head.

D is the beveled head of thohook (J, pivoted in the open cavity of the draw-head, and is interchangeable. ThehookO may be formed complete in one piece, or may be formed in two parts, as shown in Fig. 4, and in which a socket or recess is provided, at its rear end, to receive an extension that is fixed thereto by means of dovetailing, or in any suitable way, for the convenience of changing.

F is a leaf-spring fixed to the rear part of the hook C.

Fig. 5 shows a bend in rear of the beveled head D, to adapt the hook to be operated on cars of different heights.

Fig. 8 shows a slot in the hook, through which the pivot is passed in such a manner that the hook will have longitudinal play, if required.

H is a lever of the first order pivoted to the end of the car. Its short arm is flexibly connectcd with. the rear part of the hook O by means of a link or bar, I. Its top end and long arm extends through a loop, J, fixed to the car.

K is a catch or shoulder on the loop that 7 engages the lever, as required, to retain the spring F compressed and the coupling inoperative. In its normal condition the spring F will press the hook against the pin in the hole No. 2 and retain the head D in a central position relative to the draw-head, and at the same time allow it to yield, as required, to slip past the mating head or hook of a corresponding device on another car when the two come together.

L is a handle extending laterally from the lever H in such a manner thata person on the ground at either side of any two connected cars can readily operate the lever H as well as from the top of the car, and lock and unlock it from the catch K in the loop J whenever desired.

M represents a coiled spring attached to the car and the short arm of the lever H, to be used in place of the leafspring, if desired, to operate the hook O.

I am aware that hook-shaped jaws have been pivoted to draw-bars; but my manner of providing a draw-head of common form that is adapted to carry a coupling link and pin in a common way, with an opening at the rear end of the link-chamber, and pivoting a lever having a beveled head and hook in the linkchamber, and extending the rear end of the lever through the opening at its rear end in such a manner that a coupling can be effected by means of the lever, or by means of a common link and pin, is novel and greatly advantageous.

I claim as my invention- 1. The combination of the draw-head A, having an opening, 13, at the rear and side of its link-cavity, and pin-holes Nos. 1 and 2, pins adapted to be placed in said pin-holes, the pivoted hook 0, having a beveled head, D, and the spring F, substantially as shown and described, to operate in the manner set forth, I 5

for the purposes specified.

Witnesses:

THOMAS G. ORWIG, ORRA O. MOORE. 

